If I stay in the Hehuan Sect, I'll live off the pampered daughters of the Heavenly Pride Sect.

The gates of Jian Ge were closed.

Mo Chengyue stood outside the door for a long time before touching his face.

He felt that his face was really innocent.

It clearly describes someone as honest, dutiful, hardworking, and poor.

How come it became a dangerous item for the sect in their mouths?

On the way back, Mo Chengyue deliberately kept a straight face.

Halfway there, they encountered the same two night patrol disciples again.

The round-faced disciple was so frightened by his expression that his lantern drooped down a bit.

"Senior Brother Mo, did Senior Sister Qin scold you until you cried?"

Mo Chengyue said, "No."

The tall, thin disciple observed for a moment.

"Then why are you so serious?"

Mo Chengyue said, "My second senior sister ordered me not to laugh on the way."

The round-faced disciple stood in awe.

"Senior Sister Qin is really meticulous."

The tall, thin disciple whispered, "This isn't a senior sister at all; she's practically the one managing the household accounts."

Mo Chengyue looked at him.

The tall, thin disciple immediately changed his tune.

"I mean, Senior Sister Qin's care for her fellow disciples is admirable."

Mo Chengyue said, "You were just punished, remember to go tomorrow."

The round-faced disciple looked mournful.

"Senior Brother Mo, you're not even going to plead for us."

Mo Chengyue patted him on the shoulder.

"If I plead for mercy, you may have to wipe out Sword Pavilion tomorrow."

The tall, thin disciple thought for a moment.

"Then you should accept the punishment."

The round-faced disciple asked, "Senior Brother Mo, are you going back tonight?"

Mo Chengyue looked up towards the bamboo forest behind the mountain, where the lights were still on at the Iron Tree Pavilion.

He suddenly had a strong urge to find a haystack, lie down, and pretend to be missing.

"Return."

The round-faced disciple said sympathetically, "You've worked hard."

The tall, thin disciple added.

"Take care of yourself."

Mo Chengyue felt that his junior brother from Qingquan Peak's blessing had already begun to spread.

This is not a good sign.

When he returned to the Iron Tree Pavilion, Jin Qiaoqiao was leaning against the railing, her black hair spread over her shoulders, with a faint iridescent luster shimmering under the lamplight.

She changed into a peacock blue long dress, with a beautifully cinched waist and the hem draped over the wooden steps. Her posture was languid, yet she exuded the oppressive aura unique to a transformed great demon.

Lin Miaoyin sat on the soft cushions in the room, her bare feet resting on the edge of the tiger-skin rug, holding a teacup in her hands. Her purplish-red skirt spread out like a flower that bloomed too brightly in the night.

As soon as Mo Chengyue stepped into the courtyard, Jin Qiaoqiao spoke.

"It's taken you this long to see someone off."

Lin Miaoyin smiled and said, "It's normal that Senior Sister Qin is reluctant to release them."

Mo Chengyue raised his hands.

"I was just a regular escort. I didn't take any detours, I didn't admire the moon, I didn't have any secret meetings, and I didn't recite poetry at the entrance of Jian Ge."

Jin Qiaoqiao said, "Who asked you to recite poetry?"

Mo Chengyue said, "Let's clarify things in advance to reduce misunderstandings."

Lin Miaoyin's eyes sparkled, and her voice was soft.

"The more Mo Lang tries to clarify, the more it seems like something's wrong."

Mo Chengyue sighed, "Senior Sister Lin, this is called framing someone with false accusations."

Lin Miaoyin said, "I'm just concerned about you."

Jin Qiaoqiao hummed softly.

"The way you show concern for people is almost like setting a trap."

Lin Miaoyin said, "Isn't Senior Jin the same?"

Jin Qiaoqiao said, "My schemes will be conducted openly and fairly."

Mo Chengyue interrupted.

"I can testify to this; she was perfectly aboveboard when she asked me to fix the attic."

Jin Qiaoqiao looked at him.

"Are you feeling wronged?"

Mo Chengyue immediately replied, "It's no trouble at all. It's an honor for a disciple of Qingquan Peak to be able to build a pavilion for you, senior."

Lin Miaoyin put down her teacup.

"Mo Lang, you speak more fluently than the welcoming disciples of Purple Bamboo Peak."

Mo Chengyue said, "In the world of martial arts, mastering a few rhetoric skills can prolong your life in critical moments."

Jin Qiaoqiao pointed to the array pattern at the doorway.

"Be poor, but make up for it."

Mo Chengyue walked to the door, squatted down, took out a talisman brush and star sand, and began to examine the spirit gathering nodes under the wooden steps.

He didn't forget to keep talking about business.

"Senior, the array pattern isn't broken, it's just that the spiritual energy flow is a bit off."

Jin Qiaoqiao asked, "Why is it biased?"

Mo Chengyue said, "Because the pavilion was built too hastily, the earth's veins didn't have time to adapt."

Jin Qiaoqiao said, "Speak human language."

Mo Chengyue said, "We stole trees last night and rushed to finish the work tonight, so the quality of the project needs improvement."

Lin Miaoyin burst out laughing.

"Does Senior Brother Xie know that you've summarized it this way?"

Mo Chengyue said, "If my senior brother knew, he might let me experience the quality of the project myself."

Jin Qiaoqiao looked down at him drawing the array, her phoenix eyes slightly narrowed.

"Your technique is quite skillful."

Mo Chengyue said, "It was learned from repairing books in the Sutra Repository."

Jin Qiaoqiao asked, "Can you practice formations while revising books?"

Mo Chengyue said, "Just as there is a need for alignment when repairing a damaged scroll, there is also a need for alignment when arranging an array."

Lin Miaoyin said, "Then how do you coax a woman?"

Mo Chengyue paused for a moment while holding the talisman brush.

"Senior Sister Lin, this question is beyond the scope of the Sutra Repository's business."

Lin Miaoyin rested her chin on her hand as she looked at him.

"But you're very skilled in your work."

Jin Qiaoqiao nodded.

"really."

Mo Chengyue lowered his head and continued drawing.

"That was my survival instinct."

Lin Miaoyin said, "The struggle for survival is quite arduous."

Mo Chengyue spoke earnestly.

"Senior Sister Lin, when you're in the ruins, facing powerful enemies, monsters, and the schemes of fellow disciples from other peaks, the most important thing is to adapt to the situation."

Jin Qiaoqiao said, "You call being adaptable even to family members?"

Mo Chengyue coughed.

That's called emotional reassurance.

Lin Miaoyin chuckled softly.

"That sounds very serious."

Jin Qiaoqiao said, "It's not proper to do it."

Mo Chengyue looked up at the sky.

"The moonlight is beautiful tonight, suitable for repairing the array, not for judging me."

Jin Qiaoqiao tossed a small bag of spirit sand next to him.

Use this.

When Mo Chengyue opened it, he saw that the spirit sand inside had a warm and lustrous color, which was much better than the low-grade star sand he had bought from the black market.

He glanced at Jin Qiaoqiao.

"If you have good materials, why did you ask me to buy them last night?"

Jin Qiaoqiao spoke with righteous indignation.

"I want to see if you'll run away."

Mo Chengyue had mixed feelings.

"And what was the result?"

Jin Qiaoqiao said, "You didn't run away."

Lin Miaoyin added insult to injury.

"It's also possible they didn't escape."

Mo Chengyue said, "Senior Sister Lin, are you really not going back to Purple Bamboo Peak tonight just to avoid the limelight?"

Lin Miaoyin's smile faded slightly.

"There are too many visitors to Zizhu Peak tonight, it's too noisy."

Jin Qiaoqiao said, "You're afraid they'll test you."

Lin Miaoyin said, "I'm also afraid I won't be able to resist taking action."

Mo Chengyue sprinkled the spirit sand into the array pattern, his tone softening.

"The more composed you are after stepping down, the less people will know about you."

Lin Miaoyin looked at him.

"Do you think I should keep hiding?"

Mo Chengyue said, "It's not about hiding, it's about letting them panic first."

Jin Qiaoqiao seemed to be deep in thought.

"Throw the target and see who reaches out first."

Mo Chengyue nodded.

"When more people reach out for their money, it becomes clear who is impatient, who is greedy, and who has connections."

Lin Miaoyin said softly, "So you actually don't want me to go back to Zizhu Peak tonight."

Mo Chengyue almost drew the talisman crookedly with the brush in his hand.

"I didn't say that."

Lin Miaoyin laughed.

"You didn't say it, but you figured it out."

Jin Qiaoqiao looked at him.

"Your mind is always full of these scheming thoughts. No wonder you look honest but are actually full of bad ideas."

Mo Chengyue said earnestly, "Senior, this is called risk management."

Jin Qiaoqiao said, "You're including the women around you in your risk management?"

Mo Chengyue remained silent for a moment.

"I prefer to call them strategic partners."

Lin Miaoyin laughed so hard her shoulders twitched slightly.

"Will strategic partners be sent home, provide backup, and even listen to music?"

Mo Chengyue said, "The scope of service is negotiable."

Jin Qiaoqiao said, "The result of tonight's negotiation is that we will repair the formation first."

Lin Miaoyin said, "Walk with me a little longer."

Mo Chengyue looked down at the array patterns.

"I suddenly feel that this situation could be made even more complicated."

Jin Qiaoqiao said, "If you dare to stall for time, I'll tear down your wooden house."

Mo Chengyue immediately increased his hand speed.

"Don't worry, senior, it will be finished soon."

He connected the last spirit rune, and the spirit gathering array lit up gently. The moonlight scattered in the courtyard was drawn over and flowed along the base of the iron tree pavilion's pillars.

Jin Qiaoqiao closed her eyes and felt it for a moment.

"It's acceptable."

Mo Chengyue looked up.

"Senior, you've been corrupted by my second senior sister."

Jin Qiaoqiao said, "This evaluation is useful."